** Australian gold stocks .AXGD fall as much as 2.3% to
their lowest level since April 4
** Gold prices slipped on Wednesday as the dollar firmed,
cutting some safe-haven flows into bullion from the looming risk
of a U.S. debt default GOL/
** Newcrest Mining NCM.AX , the country's largest gold
miner, down as much as 1.7% to A$26.13
** Gold producer Pantoro Ltd PNR.AX leads losses on AXGD,
down as much as 5.6% to A$0.067
** Northern Star Resources NST.AX falls as much as 2.4% to
A$12.77, their lowest since April 4
** The AXGD sub-index up 18.4% this year, as of last close,
vs a 2.5% gain in the benchmark index .AXJO
(Reporting by Ayushman Ojha in Bengaluru)
((Ayushman.ojha@thomsonreuters.com;))